State of the World 2024

[harm_less]

Definitely Taiwan. They have massive control of microprocessor/computer chip production and China would very much not like that power being held over them. If China decide to take control by force expect some significant disruption in the tech industries (i.e. computers, phones, cars, appliances, transportation, etc).

One reason TSMC have built a factory in the US.
Should a war break out, I bet that they will blow the whole place up before China gets to it.

Right. The value is in the know how far more so than the production facilities otherwise China and many other countries would already be manufacturing 'chips' themselves. Ed Conway's book Material World goes into the detail of this in the 'sand' (silica) section. An intriguing read if you're interested in how much our civilisations and everyday life is influenced by a limited group of minerals.